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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Austria's Haider dies in accident | Austria's Haider dies in accident |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Austrian far-right politician Joerg Haider has been killed in a road accident, police say. | Austrian far-right politician Joerg Haider has been killed in a road accident, police say. |
| Mr Haider suffered severe head and chest injuries after his car came off the road in Carinthia, his political base. | Mr Haider suffered severe head and chest injuries after his car came off the road in Carinthia, his political base. |
| Police investigating the crash said he had been driving alone. | Police investigating the crash said he had been driving alone. |
| The 58-year-old was leader of the Alliance for Austria's Future, and was known for his anti-immigration and anti-EU policies. | The 58-year-old was leader of the Alliance for Austria's Future, and was known for his anti-immigration and anti-EU policies. |
| The Alliance was one of two right-wing parties which did better than expected in general elections last month, fuelling speculation of a possible role in a ruling coalition. | The Alliance was one of two right-wing parties which did better than expected in general elections last month, fuelling speculation of a possible role in a ruling coalition. |
| JOERG HAIDER: KEY DATES 1950: Born in Upper Austria1976: Joins Freedom Party1986: Elected party's leader1989: Elected governor of Carinthia2000: Resigns as party leader2005: Founds Alliance for Austria's Future Obituary: Joerg Haider class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7665319.stm">Death shocks friends and foes | |
| He had reportedly been due to attend his mother's 90th birthday celebrations later in the day. | He had reportedly been due to attend his mother's 90th birthday celebrations later in the day. |
| "For us this is the end of the world," the deputy leader of Mr Haider's Alliance for Austria's Future, Stefan Petzner, told Austrian news agency, APA. | "For us this is the end of the world," the deputy leader of Mr Haider's Alliance for Austria's Future, Stefan Petzner, told Austrian news agency, APA. |
| Austria's President Heinz Fischer said Mr Haider's death was a "human tragedy", while Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer described him as someone who had shaped Austria's domestic and political landscape over decades, according to the Associated Press news agency. | Austria's President Heinz Fischer said Mr Haider's death was a "human tragedy", while Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer described him as someone who had shaped Austria's domestic and political landscape over decades, according to the Associated Press news agency. |
| EU sanctions | EU sanctions |
| Mr Haider was a divisive figure, who gained notoriety after he became leader of the Freedom Party in 1986. | Mr Haider was a divisive figure, who gained notoriety after he became leader of the Freedom Party in 1986. |
| In 1991, his term as governor of the province of Carinthia was interrupted, after he made comments praising employment policies of Nazi Germany. | In 1991, his term as governor of the province of Carinthia was interrupted, after he made comments praising employment policies of Nazi Germany. |
| Mr Haider speaking about immigration in September | Mr Haider speaking about immigration in September |
| But he was re-elected in 1999 and 2003. | But he was re-elected in 1999 and 2003. |
| In 2000, the EU imposed sanctions against Austria in a protest over his party's role in government. | In 2000, the EU imposed sanctions against Austria in a protest over his party's role in government. |
| In 2005, Mr Haider left the Freedom Party and founded the Alliance for Austria's Future, which scored its best result so far in elections last month, gaining 11% of the vote. | In 2005, Mr Haider left the Freedom Party and founded the Alliance for Austria's Future, which scored its best result so far in elections last month, gaining 11% of the vote. |
| This was, however, well below the 27% which the Freedom Party won under his leadership in 1999 - a high mark in Mr Haider's electoral career at national level. | This was, however, well below the 27% which the Freedom Party won under his leadership in 1999 - a high mark in Mr Haider's electoral career at national level. |
| "With his passing, Austria has lost a great political figure," said Heinz-Christian Strache, who had taken over as leader of the Freedom Party after Mr Haider left. | "With his passing, Austria has lost a great political figure," said Heinz-Christian Strache, who had taken over as leader of the Freedom Party after Mr Haider left. |